Sightings Roll in for Mystery Moors Beast
THERE have been more reports from locals who have caught a glimpse of the 'Beast of the Bay' – the mysterious panther which may be stalking the moors.
Over the past two weeks the Whitby Gazette has been inundated with spottings
of the big cat – some from as long as eight years ago.
Most of them are within a few miles of Fylingthorpe, although one was closer to Ruswarp.
And although many of them date back several years, witnesses have been spurred on to come forward by other people going public with their sightings.
Maurice Wall (72) of Sneaton was driving along the B1416 towards Ruswarp on 3 August 1998 when he spotted the creature.
"I remember exactly when it was because it was my dad's 90th birthday," said Mr Wall.
"I saw something move in the hedges to my right.
"At first I thought it was a Shetland pony but I saw it had a long tail.
"I could tell it was a panther, it was quite big with shiny black fur and me and my wife saw it move across a field as we drove past."
David Attkinson and his wife Eleanor, from Leicestershire, were holidaying in Robin Hood's Bay last year when they saw "a panther" run in front of their car.
Mr Attkinson (55) said he never told anyone about the sighting and only after reading the Whitby Gazette, which they have delivered to their home, did he decide to ring to tell his story.
He saw the cat at around 10pm during the middle of October last year in Robin Hood's Bay when they were returning from a meal at a friend's house in Hawsker.
"We were in the car and it was raining and it galloped across the road about 25 to 50 feet in front of us," said Mr Attkinson.
"I said I can't believe what I've just seen. It was like an Alsation dog with a big tail.
"I did a double take. It's not as if it's in the middle of nowhere. It's at the top end of the village."
Bernie McLinden, senior ranger for North Yorkshire Moors National Park said he had not seen or heard of any panther spotting's himself but advised against approaching any animal.
He said: "I would warn people to stay clear of a panther should they see one as you don't know how it will react."
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Whitby Gazette: 30th November 2006
